Kristyn Lizbinski, a doctoral student studying biologyatWest Virginia University, is on a mission to reveal that every neuron is a unique snowflake. In more technical terms, she's researching the principles of neuron diversity.

Keep reading for a closer look at Kristyn's research findings, along with how she utilized WVU's status as one of the 120 R1 institutions in the nation to augment her STEM education.

West Virginia Universitycontinues to rank among the nation’s elite research institutions as reflected in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

Carnegie released its every-three-year assessment this week, and WVU continues to be rated as an R1, or very high research activity, institution, the most elite category for research-focused schools, alongside such institutions as Harvard, Yale, Columbia and Johns Hopkins. Only 120 of the nation’s 4,500 colleges and...

At West Virginia University, we've been busy researching, analyzing, and creating content related to the kinds of topics that are valuable to you.

We took a few minutes to research the five most viewed blog posts from The Summit Ahead from 2018. Take a look, and hopefully, you'll find these stories to be as valuable as the rest of our readers!

Did you know that every year colleges and universities, along with the U.S. Department of Education, award an estimated $46 billion in scholarships and grants?

Scholarships vary based on the amount awarded, geographic location, and eligibility requirements. Scholarships are also very diverse. There are graduate scholarship opportunities for everyone, no matter your gender, ethnicity, race, or where you attend school.

While finding scholarships that you're eligible for may take some time, it's...

West Virginia University is proud to be one of the 115 R1 institutions in the nation. Only the best research universities in the country achieve this status, which means that WVU is recognized for its research-based graduate programs and its research achievements.

Let's dig a little deeper and examine several of WVU's 2018 research achievements. 

There are 115 institutions in the U.S. classified as R1 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Higher Education, and West Virginia University's research classification is described as fitting into the “highest research activity” classification for doctoral universities.

From creative arts and humanities to social sciences to applied and basic sciences, R1 universities are where cutting-edge research occurs. (And note that much of the research at these universities is funded by...

If you’re a prospective or current graduate student, you’ve probably heard a little bit about graduate assistantships.

But what exactly are they? Why are they valuable? Are they really beneficial to your academic and professional career? How will one supplement the cost of my graduate degree? How can you apply for one?

The Admissions team at West Virginia University is here to educate you on the value of a graduate assistantship — like how securing one can help you infinancing graduate school...

Quincy Hathaway is an innovator, a researcher, and a future leader in STEM. The Admissions Team at West Virginia University talked with him in order to understand his recent research grant from the American Heart Association.

Here's what Quincy had to say about his dedication to excellence and his biomedical discoveries.

Strengthening its commitment to help support broad-based prosperity in West Virginia, theCenter for Excellence in STEM EducationatWest Virginia Universitywill lay the foundation for student success.

“Empowering West Virginia students to pursue and stay in STEM fields is a critical component to moving West Virginia forward,” said principal investigator and WVU Center for Excellence in STEM EducationdirectorGay Stewart. “By encouraging just 25 percent more of our students to complete their...

What if one of the prime suspects behind Alzheimer’s disease was a case of mistaken identity?

Amyloid plaques, sticky buildup that accumulates in and around neurons in the brain, have long been believed to be an indicator of neurodegenerative disease. Most clinical drug trials for Alzheimer’s disease treatment have failed, presumably because they target these plaques.

But according toRaymond Anderson, agraduate studentinWest Virginia University’sSchool of Medicine, such buildup alone does...